Andhra Pradesh

Mahabharat describes about the large Yadav population & Kingdoms throughout ancient India. During Mahabharat era there were four main Yadav branches- Andhak, Vrishni, Kookoor (Kakatiya dynasty) & Bhoj. The Andhak & Kookoor (Kakatiya) Yadav's dominated the modern Andhra Pradesh state. The name of the state Andhra Pradesh is derived from Andhak Yadav's, due to their large population in that area. 20% population of Andhra Pradesh consists of Yadav's. The maximum Yadav concentration in the state is along the belt from Hyderabad to Telangana & Royal border to Vishakhapatnam. Yadav's through ages has greatly influenced & dominated the political & cultural aspect of the city. The surnames used by Yadav's of Andhra Pradesh are Gola or Golla, Yerogolla, Dhangar, Iddyar, Kuruba, Koraba, Konar, Reddy (Not Caste Reddy, but few Yadav's they put Reddy as their surname), Raju etc.

The Kakatiya (Yadav) dynasty, constructed the Gollakonda Fort. Its one of the best Fort & ancient city in India. The name Gollakonda is derived from Telgu words Golla (Gwal=Yadav) + Konda (Fort)= The Fort of Yadav's the cowherds or Cowherd's fort.

Later in 16th Century, Muslim invaders conquered this beautiful Fort.

Golkonda Fort

In 1687, Aurangzeb conquered Gollakonda fort & destroyed the most of the Fort's architecture built by Yadav's due to envy. He could not tolerate that Hindu's will be glorified for making something beautiful.

The Golconda fort use to have a Vault chamber where once the famous Kohinoor and Hope diamonds were stored along with other diamonds during Kaktiya Yadav ruler's.

The Mines of Golkonda themselves yielded diamonds of trifling quantity. Europeans knew that diamonds were found only in these fabled mines. Golkonda was, in fact, the market city of the diamond trade, and gems sold there came from a number of mines. The fortress city within the walls was famous for diamond trade.

Magnificent diamonds were taken from the mines in the region surrounding Golkonda during Kakatiya Yadav era, including Darya-e Nur looted by Muslim Invaders & renamed), meaning sea of light, at 185 carats (37 g), the largest and finest diamond of the crown jewels of Iran.

Its name has taken a generic meaning and has come to be associated with great wealth. Gemologists use this classification to denote a diamond with a complete (or almost-complete) lack of nitrogen; "Golkonda" material is also referred to as "2A".

Many famed diamonds are believed to have been excavated from the mines of Golkonda under Kakatiya Yadav dynasty & were the property of Yadav king's were such as:

By the 1880s, Golkonda was being used generically by English speakers to refer to any particularly rich mine, and later to any source of great wealth. During the Renaissance and the early modern eras, the name "Golkonda" acquired a legendary aura and became synonymous for vast wealth.

The heavy & plum golden coins of Yadav Kingdom kept in﻿ the Andhra Pradesh State museum is the witness & proof of the great ancient glory of the great Yadava's. These coins belongs to mainly these four Yadav kings, namely: Singham Yadav, Krishna or Kanha Yadav, Madhav Yadav and Ramdev Yadav. One book was published by the Andhra Pradesh Government in 1965, titled "Coins of Yadava's" by Dr. R Subhramaniam, which has good collection of pictures of these coins.

The history of Yadav's of Andhra Pradesh is incomplete without mentioning the most Famous & richest temple of the world-Tirupati Balaji.

Tirupati Balaji

Tirupati Balaji- temple was built by Chola Yadav Kings.

The Lord of the seven hills- Tirupati Ballaji is residing in Tirupati. In the history of the temple of Lord Venkatesh (Krishna or Tirupati Balaji), the relationship & place of Yadav's are very special due to their selfless service to Their Lord Tirupati Balaji . The original temple constructed by the Chola Yadav dynasty was renovated by the great Yadav King Vir Narsimha Dev Yadavraya & Raja Krishna Dev Raya of Todmandalam/Vijaynagram kingdom between 12th Century & 16th Century. The King was follower of Sri Ramanuj acharya and he established the murti (vigraha) of Srila Ramanuj Acharya at Tirupati. King Vir Narsimha Dev Yadavraya﻿ & later on Raja Krishnadeva Raya also donated & decorated the main shikhar (Vimaana) of the temple with pure gold. He arranged for the regular worship of the Lord Balaji, His Bhoga, deep (light) in around the temple & free prasadam for all pilgrims. The descendent of this great King Vir Narsimha Dev Yadavraya﻿, namely: King Venkatnath Yadavraya & King Ranganath Yadavraya & others made all the villages around Tirupati temple tax free zone. They also arranged for the prasadam, water & staying arrangements for the pilgrims. The Yadav King's worshiped Lord Balaji with all their attention, wealth & sincerity & managed the affairs of their kingdom as the servant & representative of Lord Balaji. Statues of Vijayanagram Yadav emperor Sri Krishna Deva Raya and his spouse stand in the premises of the temple.﻿

Due to this great service spirit of Yadav Kings to Tirupati Balaji (Lord Venkatesh), the privilege of 1st worship in the morning is given to Yadav's. Its the custom of the temple which is followed even today is that everyday in the morning the main gate of the temple is opened by a person born in Yadav caste & he offers the 1st puja to Lord Tirupati Balaji.

Today Yadav's of Andhra Pradesh are very much socially, politically & commercially active. But one of the main reason of worry is the Christian conversions. Many Christian groups are full time engaged in misleading the Yadav's & converting them. The Yadav's need to be well aware of the great heritage they belong to & spread the message to other Yadav & hindu brother's not to fall in the trap of Christian missionaries.

Famous Yadav's of Andhra Pradesh

M. Anjan Kumar Yadav- M.P (Secundrabad)

Bandaru Dattatreya-Senior BJP leader & Former Union Minister.

Shivlal Yadav- Vice president-BCCI, with wife

Karumuri Venkata Nageswar Rao-MLA

(Website: www.karumuri.net)

G. Narasimha Raju Yadav

Surya Sivakumar-Actor

(He belongs to Vellalar, Velalars, Vel or Vellalas ﻿ caste: According to historical sources, scholars, Vellalars are the scions of the Velir chieftains who belonged to the Yadu (Yadav) Kshatriya clan of Chnadravanshi lineage. In Hindu texts, the Yadus are often described as an agro pastoral warrior clan.)﻿